Flat-work ironer.



F. P. HESS.

FLAT WORK momma.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1911. I LUIUQQQZD Patented Feb. 13,1912.

4 SEEETSSHEET 1.

' -nno -un F. P. HESS.

FLAT WORK IRONER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1911.

Lmfi w m Patented Feb. 13,1912.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2f F. P. HESS.

PLAT WORK IRONEE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1911.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

F. P. HESS.

FLAT WORK IRONER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1911.

L, D Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

& SHEETS-SHEET 41.

16 I heated revolubler cylinders;

. FB ANKLIN I. HESS, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.-

FLAT-WORK IRONER.

:To all cub-0m z'tjmay j -Be--it known that I, FRANKLIN P. a citizen j of the' -Unitcd States of America, andafresidentgofj Lynn, in the-county of E's'serand State ofigfiassachusetts, haveinvented certain.hewialid.usefulImprovements in Fiat-Work Ironers; of 1 followa ing -is-asp'ecification a q 1 This inv'enti' n"rela t'es-to ironing; machines or les', iparticularlyadapted for a use in steam aundries," a'nd {particularly to f that. class 1 of such machines .inwhich; an endless apron is uslizeeimwnve the-articles a. be

' ironed into answerwat sulta The l' inventi' ncons1sts an liijct'el;

1 features ofjeenstruction-andrrangement of Specification of Letters Patent. a noa'uo 'iued February 21, 1911. senawmjemoaa Patented Feb. 13,1912.

7 Q Each ofthe trunnions 12' has secured there-- "to,.so as tor-evolve therewith, a sprocket wheel 18, with which enga' es the endless "sprocket chain" 19. 'This-'Rc ai'n '19 passes :under the sprocket wheels 18 and over sprocket wheels-20 secured toand'revoluble {with-the air cylinders 21, one of which is. {provided for each steam cylinder 18. These air"cylinders 21 are providedwith'periph- .eral perforations extending through the cylindrical wall thereofi'andone end of each of said cylinders is connected-to a flexible.

pipe 22, which, in turn, communicates with fa pipe '23 connected to a blower or suction ffan 24 of any well-known construction. The

j'chains 19, at intervals throughout their entire length, areprovided with yielding mem- 25 tion of thesame, the cutting pl-ane'being-on- 40 movable member for. shifting said weight.

-partsywhichgiwill flbe rcadilyunderstoodby bers such as the springs 25-, the other ends reference'to'the-ideseriptiofiof thedrawings. of. which are connected with the endless 20-andtotheclaims.heremafter given. apron-26. This apron 26 passes over the Of'fthediatwihgsfFigure 1 represents arollers 27 and 28, and; under the rcllers29 verticalfflongitudinal section of 'amaehine' and 30. Therollers'29'and 3O are revolubly embodyifigFthe-features of the present Eng. mountedin suitable boxes31, adjustable, by.

' vention-.T'-'Fig;ji2 represents Ta transverse seer; ,means of the members; 32 mounted in the frames 10, to keep the apron taut at all times.

The'springsv 25, between the chains 19 and line Fig; 1. Y Fig.3 represents a ver 'tieal lpngitudin'al section of"-the'.'same,- the eutting' planebeing on line ,3 3 on- Fig. 2.

- Fig.- 4 representsa sectional detail, the cut-v ting plane being. online Fig.1. Fig;

. 5- represent's asimilar idetail', the cutting plane being on line on Fi ."la'f- Fig. 6

' represents a-plan of one end c the' Weight shifter; 'Fig.;7;.represent s aplan of'a'polwtion of the 'apron, }and showmg its connections with the' 'endless chains for moving the same, and Fig. 8'represents an elevation of one of the-weights, showing in sectionthe leverarm on which it is mounted, and the apron stretchedlat'erally at all times.

When the maohine is. in" operation, the apron travels in the direction of the arrow 0 on Fig.1?) of thedrawings. As it passes over. the rollers 28-- and 27, it passes'partia'lly around and under the i ironing .or' smoothing cylinders l i'and parti'ally around and over the ,air cylinders 21, all as clearly indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. ,The portion of the apron between the rollers 27 and 28 serves as a support upon which to place the articles to'be' ironed. Y Revolublymounted in the frames 10 is a grooved auxiliary roller'33, and revolubly mounted in the slot 34in the extension 35 Similar characters designate like parts throughout t-he several. figuresof the drawgrooved auxiliary roller 37. Theserollers 33 and 37 carry a plurality of endless cords 37*, which are adapted to contact with the endless apron 26 as it passesover the roller 27 and be moved thereby. Theframe 36 is pivoted at 38 and is provided with a tie-rod 39 ektending throughsaid frame 36' and through slots .40. in the side frames 10. The'outer ends of this tie-rod 39 are provided with clamping members. 41, by which the frame may be clamped when adjusted in various positions about thepivot 38 to'HO mgs.

In the drawings, 10 represents the side frames, provided with-suitable bearings 11 of any well-known construction, in which are adapted to revolve the 'trunnions' 12 formed upon the heads 13 of the steam cylinders 14. Each steam cylinder is provided with a steam inlet pipe 15 and an outlet pipe I 16, by means of which steam is permltted to pass through the cylinder 14 and heat the same. Secured to the outer end of one of the trunnions 121 is a pulley 17, by which 55 said cylinder is adapted to be revolved.-

the edges of the apron 26, serve to keep the 1 from the pivoted frame 36 is another vary the hei ht of the roller 28 thus adapting it for di erent operators. As the frame 36 is raised and lowered, it will cause similar movement to the roller 37, which is pros'vided with trunnions at either end extending through slots 42 concentric to the axis of the shaft 33, so that as the said roller 37 changes its position in the raising and lowering of the frame 36,.the cords or other will always remain taut. The articles to be ironed are placed upon the apron -26 at 43, and will be carried thereby over the roller 27 being held in contact with the apron by means of the cords 37. The articles will then be conveyed, by meansof the apron, underneath the ironing or smoothing cylinder 14, and then will be carried upwardly over .the air cylinders 21, underneath the second ironing or smoothing cylinder 14, over the second air cylinder 21, under the third ironing or smoothing cylinder 14, and over the third and last air cylinder 21, from which they will be delivered from the apronflonto the curved stationary iron 44. A pressure roller 45, retaining the articles in contact with said stationary iron 44, is revolved in the direction of the arrow 1) on Fig. 3, to convey the articles being ironed onto' the table 46-. As the articles ass around the ironing or smoothing cylmders 14, the right side of the articles will be ironed, and as the same articles pass between the pressure roller 45 and the stationary iron 44, the wrong side of the articles will be slightly ironed prior to being deposited upon the delivery table 46.

Steam 1s admitted to the stationary iron 44 through the inlet 47 The -ends of the shaft 48, to which the roller 45 is secured, are mounted in boxes 49', slidable substantially vertically in the side'frames 10, each box being superimposed upon a spring 50 tending to separate the roller 45 from the upwardly extending projection 51 against which one end of the lever 52 bears, the opposite end being connectedby means of a link 53 with a pivoted lever 54 having mounted upon its opposite end a weight 55. The weight 55 is suflicient when atthe outer end of the lever 54 to overcome the tension of the spring and retain the roller 45 in contactwith the stationary iron 44. Whenever, however, the weight is moved sufficiently toward the pivot 56 of the lever 54, the tension of the spring 50 will overcome any action of the weight 55 and cause the roller 45 to be separated from the stationary iron 44. In a similar manner the levers 57 are pivoted to the side frames 10 at 58, and

- have mounted in one end a revoluble shaft 59 having a squared portion 60 intermediate its ends upon which are secured a lurality of disks 61 of felt or similar yiel ing ma members carried by the rollers 33 and 37 iron 44. Each box 49 is provided with an terial clamped firmly-together 'by means of the clampln threaded to t e ends of the shaft 59. Each of the levers' 57 has mounted upon its outer end a weight 63 which is suflic1ent=to retain the d sks 61 forming a revolnblepressure roll in contact withthe under -face of'the nuts or other'- members 62.

endless apron 26, thereby forcing saidapron into contact with the periphery ofcthe ironing orsmoothing cylinder 14. Each of the weights 55 and 63 is provided with a revoluble truck or wheel 64 adapted to travel along the upper edge of the lever 57. Each of these weights 55 and 63 is also provided with upwardly extending projections 65 which pass through openings in the reciprocating member 66, one end of which is provided with a handle 67 by which said member may be reciprocated. Itis obvious, by referring to the drawings, that, when desired, the operator may, by grasping the handle 67, movethe members 66 sufiicie'ntly to move the weights 55 and 63 toward the pivots of the levers 54 and 57, and thereby chan e the leverage. Obviously, when these weig ts have been moved sufliciently far toward the pivots 56 and 58, the tension of the spring 50 and the weight of the press'ure' rolls 61 will be suflicient to cause a separation between the rollers 45' and 61, and the stationary iron 44 and the revoluble "ironing cylinders 14 respectively. The air cylinders 21 are revolubly mounted in vertically reciprocating frames 68 one at each side of the machine provided with guide members 69 movable in bearings formed upon the-side frames 10. From the center of each frame 68 a rod 70 extends downwardly, and is provided with a strap 71 en circling an eccentric 72 mounted upon the shaft 73. This shaft 73 is provided at one end with a handle 74, by which the eccentrics 72 may be turned about the axis of the shaft 73 to raise and lower the frames 68, and with them the ,air cylinders 21.

In the operation of the device, the articles to be ironed areplaced upon the movable apron 26 at 43, and are carried thereby underneaththe endless cords 37, and then successively underneath the various ironing cylinders 14, and the right side of the goods is thus caused to be ironed. 7 As the apron with the goods thereonpasses over the air cylinders 21, the operation of the blower 24 will act to suck through the perforations in these cylinders any moisture in the apron passing partially around thesame. 'By this means the apron iskept free from moisture, and its life is'greatly extended, while the ironing of the articles is greatly facilitated and accomplished more quickly. As the articlespass from the last air cylinder 21, the

reverse side of the article is ironed While .passin between the stationary iron 44 and the to er 45, which roller is driven from the shaftwof one ofthecylinders 14 by means towels, and similar articles, are being ironed, the roller'45 is held vincontact -W1l3h the iron 44 by means of the weight55, and the pressure rolls 61.similarly act upon the under face-of the apron 26 to retain itincontact with the ironing cylinders 14, being held in contact therewith bymeans of the weights 63. When it.is desired, however, to iron articles having buttons thereon, it is necessary that the pressure rolls 61 and the roller 45 should be separated from the ironing cylinders 14 and the stationary iron 44, and in order to accomplish-this separation the operator simply. moves thereciprocating member 66 toward the delivery end of. the machine, thereby shifting the weights 63 and 55 sufficiently to permit the weights of the rollers 61 and the springs 50 to effect such separation. The endless apron 26.may be kept taut at alltimes by adjustinglthe position of the rollers 29 and 30, or t is may be accomplished by means of the eccentrics 72, thereby raising and lowering the frames 68 carryingthe air cylinders 21. The apron is stretched laterally by means of the springs 25 interposed between theedges of said apron' and the carrying chain 19.

Above the ironing cylinders 14 andthe air cylinders 21- is secured a curved guide plate 7 6' which serves the purpose of directing the movement of the articlesupon the apron 26 as the aprons pass partially around the peripheries of the air cylinders 21. The chains 19 are kept in the same plane'with theapron 26 as the latter. passes around the various cylinders and rollers by passing partially around the sprocketwheels 18 and 20 upon and the air cylinders 21 respectively, and

partially around the sprocketwheels 7 7fand smoothing cylinders and an endless apron passing partially around the cylinders, of

perforated cylindersover which the apron passes after leaving the ironing cylinders;

nd means for creating a suction in said Perforated cylinders...

2. In a machine of the class described, the

the trunnions ofthe ironing'cylinders 14- Having'thus described my invention, I.

l achine of the class described, the. combination .with a series of ironing or "combination with a series of ironing or vsmoothmg cylmders and an endless'apron passmg' partially around'the cylinders, of:

perfora'tedc linders over which the apron passes after eaving the'ironin cylinders; a pipe. from each perforated cy inder;. and a suctionfan with-which. said pipe communicates'.

3. a machine of the class described, thecomblnation with a series of ironing or smoothing cylinders and anendless apron passlng partially aroundgthe cylinders, .of pairs of. pivoted weighted members below the apron; shafts revoluble one in each pair i of members; and a plurality of felt diskson with said apron and ironing cylinders.

=4. Ina machine of the class described, the

combination with a series of ironing or smoothing cylinders and an endless apron passing partially around the cylinders, of

shaft for forcing said disks together; and

weights on said members adapted to retain saiddisks in contact with the apron as it passes partially around an ironing'cylinder. .5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a series of ironing or smoothingscylinders and an endless apron passing partlally around the cylinders; of a plural ty of pairs of pivoted members below the apron; .-a pressure roller revolubly mounted in one end of each pair of pivoted members; a movable weight at-the o posite end of each .member adapted to retain said roller in contact with said apron; and means for simultaneously shifting the position of all of said weights relative to said members. 6*. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a series of ironing 'or smoothing cylinders and an endless apron passing partially around the cylinders; of a pluralltyfiof pairs of pivoted members below the apron a pressure rollerrevolubly members; a movable weight at the opposite end of each member adapted to retam s'aid rollerin contact with said a ron; and a remounted in one endof each pair of pivoted ciprocating member adapte in its move ment' toshift the, position=of all of said weights simultaneously.

7. In a machine of the class 'described, the

combination with a series of ironing or 1 smoothing cylinders and an endless apron passing partially around the cylinders; "of

a. plurality of pairs of pivoted members end of each member adapted .to? retam said roller in contact with said 'apron;'.and; a 're- 80 said shafts forming pressure rollers coact-ing; i

25 smoothing cylinders and an endless apron 45 another auxiliary roller between said ciprocating 'memberprovided with openings each adapted toreceive a vertical projection on a weight.

- 8. Ina machine of the class described, the

combination; with aseries of ironing or smoothing cylinders and an endless apron passing. partially around the cylinders, of perforated lcylinders over which the a ron passes after leaving the ironing cylin ers; a pipe leading from theend of each perforated cylinder; an air moving device'connectedto said p1 e; and means-for ra1s1ng and lowering sai perforated cylinders.

9. In a machineof the-class described, the combination with a series of ironing 0r smoothing cylinders and'an endless apron passing partially around-the cylinders, of

perforatedcylinders over which the apron passes after leavingthe ironing cylinders; pipes leading from the ends of sald perforated cylinders; and means for raising or lowering all said perforated cylinders -simultaneously.

-10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a' series of ironing or I passing partially around the cylinders, of

' frame roller an a ivoted frame carryin a ivoted frame carrying a roller over;

whlch said endless cylinder apron passes and provided with slotted supports for an auxiliary roller positioned above said apron;

between said onev of said cylinders; and endless membersv passing around said auxiliary rollers and serving to retain arti another auxiliar "rollers cles upon said apron while being fed to said roller and one of said cylinders; endless members passing around said auxiliary rollers and coacting with said apron; and side frames provided with curved slots through which the ends of the shaft of one of said auxiliary rollers extend, saidslots being of such curvature as to retain said endless members taut under all conditions 12. In a machine of the [class described, the combination with a series of ironing or smoothing cylinders and an endless apron passing partially around the cylinders; a perforated drying cylinder over which the apron is adapted to pass from each ironing cylinder; and av memberover each drying cylinderfadapted-to guide the articles on v said apron.

. 13. In a machine of the'class described,

the combination with a series of ironing or smoothing cyllnders and an endlessapron passing partially around the cylinders; a

perforated drying cylinder over which the apron is adapted to passfrom each ironing cylinder; aniron ada ted to receivethe articles as the pass om .the last drying cylinder; an a pressure roll co-acting with said iron.

14. In a machine of the classde'scribed,

the combination with a series of ironing or smoothing cylinders and an endless apron passing partially around the cylinders; a perforated drying cylinder over which the apron is adapted to pass from each ironing cylinder; an iron adapted to receive the articles as they pass from the last drying cylinder; a pressure roll cO-acting with said iron; and means for separating said pressure roll from said iron.

' 15. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a series of ironing or smoothing cylinders and an endless apron passing partially around the cylinders; sprocket wheels on the shaft of each cylinder; endless chains carried by said sprocket wheels; and members extending at intervals from each edge of said apron to said chains.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a series of ironing or smoothing cylinders and an endless apron passing partially around the cylinders; sprocket wheels on the shaft of each cylin der; endless chains carried by said sprocket wheels; and yielding members extending at intervals from each edge of said-apronto said chains.

Signed by me at 4 Post Ofiice Sq., Boston, Mass, this 16th day of February, 1911.

FRANKLIN. P. HESS. 

